Treating Diabetic Dogs

The biggest concern for most people whose dogs are diagnosed with diabetes is the thought of giving their dogs insulin injections twice a day. Fortunately, the process is really not that bad, for the person or for the dog.

Is there any alternative to insulin shots for diabetic dogs? Not really. Insulin can't be taken by mouth; when it's swallowed, it's digested and doesn't reach the bloodstream in a usable form. Other oral medications sometimes used by diabetic people don't work in dogs. Pharmacies carry several different types of insulin for human diabetics, and the same types of insulin are used for dogs. Your veterinarian will write a prescription for the specific insulin your dog will be using, as well as for the syringes needed to give the insulin injections.

Insulin comes in a small glass bottle and must be stored in the refrigerator. The needles are already attached to the syringes, which are marked in units. Insulin is used in tiny amounts and injected just under the skin, so the needle is thin and small. A typical starting dose for a 20-pound dog is 10U. That is only 0.1 milliliter - just a couple of drops. By contrast, when your dog is vaccinated against rabies, the vet injects 1 milliliter of vaccine, or 10 times as much.

Most diabetic dogs are given insulin and fed twice a day, ideally at 12-hour intervals, such as 7 am and 7 pm. The insulin is given first, then the food. Dogs who like to eat may actually be excited to see the insulin come out of the refrigerator, because they know that food comes next!

To give an insulin injections, get out a syringe and take the insulin out of the refrigerator. Turn the insulin vial upside down and roll it gently between your palms for about three seconds to mix it. Wipe off the top of the vial with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol. Take the cover off the needle, stick the needle through the rubber top of the insulin vial, and turn the vial upside down, keeping the tip of the needle "underwater". Pull back on the plunger to draw the proper amount of insulin into the syringe.

If you get air in the syringe, that means the tip of the needle wasn't in the insulin. Push the plunger to inject the air back into the bottle, and reposition the needle tip so it draws up insulin instead. When you have the correct amount of insulin in the syringe, pull the needle and syringe out of the vial.

To give your dog an injection, pick up a small tent of skin on his neck or upper back. (use a slightly different area each time so that one spot doesn't get sore.) Push the needle through the skin at the bottom of the "tent". You'll feel a slight pop as the needle goes through the skin. If your dog is small and thin-skinned-like in a case of a Chihuahua-make sure you don't push the needle through both sides of the "tent", or you'll be injecting the insulin into the air.

Pull back on the plunger just a smudge, to make sure you haven't accidentally gotten into a blood vessel. If you see blood in the syringe, pull the needle out of the skin and poke it through again in a different spot. Then steadily push in the plunger to deposit the insulin under the skin. Pull the needle and syringe out gently, praise your dog extravagantly, and give him his breakfast or supper.

You'll need to keep a daily log of the time and dose of insulin, how much your dog eats and drinks, and what his attitude and energy level is like, so have your notebook or calendar nearby to jot down that information. Wipe off the top of the insulin vial again with the alcohol-soaked cotton and put the insulin back in the refrigerator.

People often jab themselves when trying to put the cap back on a needle, so you may want to invest in a syringe-disposal box that cuts the needle off the syringe. Alternatively, you can drop used syringes into an empty, heavy plastic bleach or laundry detergent bottle.

Most people find giving insulin quite simple for dogs with diabetes, and most of them seldom puts up a fuss. That makes scheduling the most difficult part of caring for a diabetic dog - he needs his insulin and a meal roughly every 12 hours, 7 days a week. If you know that work will occasionally interfere with this routine, look for a pet sitter who is experienced in giving injections, or board your dog for the day with your vet so he can get his insulin and food on time.